Take-off mechanism for looms



Jan. 4, 1944. J, 5 HARRIS 2,338,638

TAKE-OFF MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed NOV. 18, 1942 '1 v I 4". I Za- W I N V EN TOR. @7060 fi. HOT/V's A rroe/vtr Patented Jan. 4, 1944 TAKE-OFF MECHANISM FOR LOOMS John D. Harris, Larchmont, N. Y., assignor to Thomas French & Sons, Ltd., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 18, 1942, Serial No. 466,076

Claims.

The present invention is directed to looms, and more particularly, to a modified structure of loom which is adapted for the production of a p1urality of narrow fabrics simultaneously in the loom.

In looms for producing narrow woven fabrics it was customary to provide underneath the loom a box or similar container below the takeoff rolls into which the several fabrics being produced on the loom were allowed to accumulate. This involved several disadvantages in that it frequently occurred that the fabric became tangled in the takeoff rolls whereby damage was caused to the fabric, involving a considerable loss. Also, various fabrics, because of the irregular manner in which they accumulated in the box, often became tangled with each other, requiring considerable time to separate the various fabrics. The location of the box is such that it often interfered with the movements of the operator of the loom in performing his duties in connection with the weaving operation. Because the fabric dropped directly from the loom into the box, it was not possible for the operator to inspect the fabric continually while it is being produced, without distracting his attention from his other duties.

In making such narrow fabrics it was customary to out certain length from the fabrics as they were produced in the loom. For instance, one might cut the fabric in 72-yard lengths. Then, when such fabric was inspected and a defeet was found in a length, most if not all of said length would be considered as damaged.

The present invention seeks to eliminate the dimculties and disadvantages inherent in prior structures of looms and methods of operating the same, it being among the objects of the present invention to provide a structure of a loom Wherein the production of the narrow fabrics or webbings is such that there is no interference with the movements of the operator and there is no possibility of the webbings being tangled with each other.

It is also among the objects of the present invention to provide a loom structure which is simple and which carries the Webbings away from the loom in such a manner as to allow continual inspection thereof by the operator without interference with his other duties.

It is still further among the objects of the present invention to provide a structure which will allow the production in a continuous piece of a relatively large amount of narrow woven fabric, and particularly, a piece which is of the length allowed by the nature of the Warp-threads used therein.

In practicing the present invention I eliminate the box which had heretofore been placed at the feet of the operator and under the loom. Instead thereof I provide a container which is located directly above the loom where there is ample space and the box may be of relatively large dimensions. Preferably, it is divided into a series of compartments for the reception of individual woven fabrics or webbings.

Mechanism is provided above the container to draw webbing from the takeoff rolls of the loom and to feed it into the container being synchronized with the rate of production of the webbing, so that the webbing is held taut in its upward travel.

The invention will be described in detail in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which like reference characters indicate like parts and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a structure made in accordance with the present invention, some parts being broken away and others being shown diagrammatically for clearness; and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front view of the upper portion of the mechanism.

The loom I is shown diagrammatically with the omission of most of its mechanism, but with the showing of a few parts which cooperate with the remainder of the mechanism provided by the present invention. The loom has a breast beam 2 and a batten or lay 3 which assists in th weaving operation, as is well known. Takeofi rolls 4 and 5 are provided, the Webbing 6 passing over the same and out of the loom.

As part of the loom structure there is provided a frame 1 having a support 8 thereon in which are pivoted a series of rocker arms 9 having chains i0 depending from the free ends thereof and being connected to harnesses I i. These harnesses provide suitable movement of the various threads in conjunction with the movement of the shuttles carried by the batten 3 to weave the desired fabric, as is well known.

Above the loom is provided an upwardly extending frame I? having a containeri? resting thereon, said container being divided into a series of compartments Hi. In vertical alineinent with roll 5 is an idler roll i5 loosely supported at its ends in brackets l6. Above container l3 and held by frame I? are a pair of journal brackets I! in which the roll I8 is held for rotary movement. The face of roll I8 is provided with a roughened surface 19 at a plurality of spaced areas to provide friction on the webbing 6 passing over the same. Usually, said surface consists of a strip of sandpaper or the like. Depending from the top of frame I2 are pairs of straps 20 having the free ends 2| thereof bent upwardly to provide support for the axles of idler rolls 22. Said rolls rest upon surfaces l9 and provide the necessary pressure to maintain the desired friction on the webbing 6.

A bell-crank lever 23 is pivoted at 24 on frame I2 and a dog 25 is pivoted at one end of the said lever. It meshes with ratchet wheel 26, providing a step-by-step driving arrangement. From the other end 2? of said lever a chain 28 depends and is secured to an intermediate portion of one of the rocker arms 9.

In the operation of the present invention the loom functions as usual, but the webbing 6 is pulled upwardly in front of the loom and in front of the operator over idler roll I and friction roll i8. It passes downwardly from the latter roll and into container l 3. The position of said container relative to the webbing is such that the vertical centerline of the container is approximately in alinement with the webbing 6 as it leaves roll it. Thereby, due to the inherent stiffness of the webbing t, it tends to lie flat in the bottom of container l3, forming folds 3B. As the webbing is being laid in the container and, let us say, is traveling from left to right, it eventually touches the right wall of the container at point 3i, the interference causing the webbing to now form a fold, and upon further feeding thereof, it is laid flat until the left-hand wall of the container is reached when, similarly, a fold is formed and the function is repeated.

Various advantages are obtained by such a structure, as for instance, the length of the webbing may be hundreds of yards, or even more, depending upon the length of the warps used. Thereby, when a defect is found in any portion of the webbing, only a very small piece need be lost, as the remainder is such great length that commercially usable sections may be readily cut therefrom. Because the webbing is carried in front of the operator in its upward travel, he views the same for a considerable length of time, say at least a half hour, so that any defects in the fabric will be found by him while the fabric is being made and he may thereby be enabled to correct the operation of the loom before any large amount of fabric is spoiled.

Even though the webbings pass upwarriiy in front of the operator they do not obstruct his View of the weaving operation because the fabrics are relatively narrow and the spaces between adjacent fabrics are relatively large, allowing him to pass between the various webbings and attend to his normal duties in keeping the loom functioning. There is no possibility of any of the webbings being damaged by proximity to the loo-m as they are carried away from the loom immediately upon being formed. compartments are provided in the container, the several fabrics cannot become tangled with each other.

Although I have described my invention setting forth a single embodiment thereof, the invention is not to be limited thereto. For instance, it is not necessary that the webbings be carried direct 1y or vertically above the loo-m, but there be variation from the direct upward position. The driving mechanism for the pressure rolls need not be coupled with the operation of the harnesses, but may be independent thereof and may even be from a separate source. The present inven tion may be adapted to looms for making various types of fabrics, either plain or special, such as Because separate ladder web for venetian blinds, belts for machine gun cartridges, webbing for sun helmets, lamp wicks, and many other types of narrow fabrics. The ladder web may be passed from the loom downwardly and to the rear thereof and the reeling mechanism may be placed either at the back of the loom or at an elevated position. From the above, it will be noted that the invention is broadand is not limited to the specific illustration. Therefore, the invention is to be broadly construed and not to be limited, except by the character of the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. In a loom having weaving elements adapted to form a webbing, harnesses for controlling the weaving, driving means for causing operation of said harnesses, and means for leading said webbing out of said loom, the improvement which comprises means for passing said webbing upwardly in front of said loom to a point above the same, a container above said loom and below the upper travel of said webbing, and means for feeding said webbing into said container.

2. In a loom having weaving elements adapted to form a webbing, harnesses for controlling the weaving, driving means for causing operation of said harnesses, and means for leading said webbing out of said loom, the improvement which comprises an idler roll above said loom for passing said webbing upwardly in front of said loom to a point above the same, a container above said loom and below the upper travel of said webbing, and means for feeding said webbing into said container.

3. In a loom having weaving elements adapted to form a webbing, harnesses for controlling the weaving, driving means for causing operation of said harnesses, and means for leading said webbing out of said loom, the improvement which comprises means for passing said webbing upwardly in front of said loom to a point above the same, means for holding said webbing taut in its upward travel, a container above said loom and below the upper travel of said webbing, and means for feeding said webbing into said container.

l. In a loom having weaving elements adapted to form a webbing, harnesses for controlling the weaving, driving means for causing operation of said harnesses, and means for leading said webbing out of said loom, the improvement which comprises means for passing said webbing upwardly in front of said loom to a point above the same, a container above. said loom and below the upper travel of said. webbing, and means for feeding said webbing into said container, said feeding means being actuated by said harness driving means.

5. In a loom having weaving elements adapted to form a webbing, harnesses for controlling the weaving, driving means for causing operation of said harnesses, and means for leadingv said webbing out of said loom, the improvement which.

comprises means for passing. said webbing upwardly in front of. said loom to a point above the same, a container above said loom and below the upper travel of said webbing, a pair of pressure rolls above said container, said. webbing passing through said rolls, and driving means for said rolls for feeding said webbing into said container.

6. In a loom having weaving elements adapted toform a webbing, harnesses for controlling the weaving, driving means for causing operation of saidharnesses, and means for leading said webbing out of said loom, the improvement which;

comprises means for passing said webbing upwardly in front of said loom to a point above the same, a container above said loom and below the upper travel of said webbing, a pair of pressure rolls above said container, said webbing passing through said rolls, and driving means for said rolls for feeding said webbing into said container including a ratchet on one of said pressure rolls, a dog cooperating therewith, and a driving connection to said dog.

7. In a, loom having weaving elements adapted to form a webbing, harnesses for controlling the weaving, driving means for causing operation of said harnesses, and means for leading said webbing out of said loom, the improvement which comprises means for passing said webbing upwardly in front of said loom to a point above the same, a container above said loom and below the upper travel of said webbing, a pair of pressure rolls above said container, said webbing passing through said rolls, and driving means for said rolls for feeding said webbing into said container including a ratchet on one of said pressure rolls, a dog cooperating therewith, and a driving connection to said dog from said harness driving means to drive said pressure rolls in unison with said loom.

8. In a loom having weaving elements adapted to form a plurality of webbings simultaneously, harnesses for controlling the weaving, driving means for causing operation of said harnesses, and means for leading said webbing out of said loom, the improvement which comprises means for passing said webbing upwardly in front of said loom to a point above the same, a container above said loom and below the upper travel of said webbing, and means for feeding said webbing into said container.

9. In a loom having weaving elements adapted to form a plurality of webbings simultaneously, harnesses for controlling the weaving, driving means for causing operation of said harnesses, and means for leading said webbing out of said loom, the improvement which comprises means for passing said webbing upwardly in front of said loom to a point above the same, a container above said loom and below the upper travel of said webbing, said container having a plurality of compartments for said plurality of webbings, and means for feeding said webbing into said container.

10. In a loom having weaving elements adapted to form a webbing, harnesses for controlling the weaving, driving means for causing operation of said harnesses, and means for leading said webbing out of said loom, the improvement which comprises means for passing said webbing upwardly in front of said loom to a point above the same, a container above said loom and below the upper travel of said webbing, and means for feeding said webbing into said container, the vertical centerline of said container being approximately in alinement with said webbing being fed thereto, whereby said Webbing is automatically laid flat in said container.

J OHN D. HARRIS. 

